Photography

cshimokita
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"During the Second World War,

Goebbles [Minister of Propaganda from 1933 to 1945] gave an order to all cameramen at the front: 'The German soldier always attacks from left to right.' That was it, no further explanation. Sure enough, if you look at old newsreels, the Germans always advance from the left to the right of the screen. (on both the Eastern and Western Front) ... The question we need to ask ourselves is: why does the direction of their movement make soldiers look so victorious and optimistic? There must be something within us, some hidden law." — Werner Herzog (A Guide for the Perplexed: Conversations with Paul Cronin)

When I have discussed this with other photographers the 'quick and dirty' reply is because we read from left to right.  Well then it must be cultural because some languages are read from right to left.  The other day I noticed a person get off their bicycle on the right side and felt it was the strangest thing ; )

Which version seem more natural to you?

The spiral stairs in castle towers were designed to ascend clockwise, to make the attackers expose more of their body in order to use their swords in their right hands. Do contemporary stair users (architects) have a preference?

One of the things about Herzog that I enjoy is his ability to see through a lot of these patterns and use/abuse them in his movies.

Casey

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